Indicator.



L. S. LARSON.

INDICATOR.

nrmoumn FILED MAR. 11, 1913.

1,081,843, Patente l Dec. 16, 1913.

-Zawrence {5: 450115017 M atmm UN TED srArE-s PATENT onnron LAWRENCE s. LARSON, or 'roLEDo, onro.

-mmcuron.

Specification 01* Letters r m.

' Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Application filed March11, 1913. Serial in 753,559.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE S. LARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State ofOhio, have invented new and useful Improvements in' Indicators, of which the following is a specification. t

This invention relates to indicators and more particularly to devices for showing the amount of water in ballast tanks of vessels.

Heretofore the method of determining the amount of ballast in the ballast tanks was to insert a rod in a tube into the ballast tank and measure the amount of water in this manner. This necessitated consider able time and trouble and it is the obj ect of.

- the present invention to avoid these difliculties, and broadly speaking to provide a device which will automatically indicate to the engineer the amount of water in the ballast tanks without having tomove from his position in the engine room. I j

A.further object of the invention is the provision of an indicator in which an electric. circuit is used, having a plurality of resistance elements therein adapted to be successively cut inas the water rises in the tank so that when there is nowater in the tank .the maximum voltage will pass through the volt meterand be gradually decreased, as the resistance is cut into the circuit by mechanism actuated by the rise of the water in the ballast tank.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accom" anying drawing which forms a part 0 this application, and, in which the-figure is a diagrammatic. view showing a cross section of the ships ballast tank and the connection between the sliding contact and the'float.

Referring more particularly to tha drawing, 1 represents the side of a ship and 2 a ballast tank contained within the ship and having mounted thereonacasing 3 in which the resistance element 4 is mounted. This resistance element comprises a stationary metallic plate 5 having a plurality of contact pins 6 projecting therethrough and electrically insulated therefrom, as will be readilyseen from the sectioned portion of.

the resistance element. These pins are w'oundwith a predetermined amount of any suitable reslstance wire shown at7, so as to form resistance co1ls whlch are connected flexible pig tail 12 to a slidin in series from the bottom to the top of the plate 5, as shown. The lower coil is connectedto one terminal 8 of an electrical circuit 9 which includes a source of current 10 and a volt meter. 11. The opposite terminal of the circuit is connected through a block 13 of insulating material. This bloc is mounted adjacent. theuppe'r'end of a connecting rod Y 14, whose-lower end is secured in a" yoke 15 formed on the float-'16. -The float is constructed of any suitable material and is' provided with tubes 17 passing therethrough, which surrounds the guide rods 18 extending from the bottomv to the top, of the tank in parallel relation, as shown. The upperend of the connecting rod 14 has secured to. it. a guiding block .19 of metal and connectingthe blocks 13 and;l9 is a contact spring 20 whichis adapted, to wipe over the exposed ends of the pins 6, where they project through said plate. The block 19 is provided with an aperture 21 to receive a guide 'rod 22 extending between the top'andthe bottom of the. casing'3 in parallel relation with the plate 5 so "that the block 19 is prevented from turning and the spring 20 is held in engagement with the pin 6,with equal pressure throughout its movement.

- The volt meter "'11 which is of'ordinary construction has its dial'preferably changed so as to'readin foot inches instead of volts and eachcoil is made to reduce the voltage connection between the opposite terminal of the circuit and the contact members and means to insure engagementof the contact member with one resistance'element at all times. a, I

2. In a ships ballast indicator, the combination witha ballast tank, of a casing mounted thereon, a float operating Within the tank, an electrical circuit including a indicator, the comof resistance elements mounted in the cas-' n'al of the circuit, a sliding contact spring opposite terminal of the circuit, a rigid source of clirrent and a volt lneter, a bank ing the fl 'oat anl means for guiding the con- 10 tact spring.

In testimony whereof I a'flix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAWRENCE S. LARSON.

ing and connected in series with one termiarranged in the casing and connected to the connection between the float and the contact Witnesses: spring for operating the latter over the D. W. CONGER, bank of resistance elements, means for guid- R. E. BERRY. 

